Consumer Analytics

The biggest news at the International Home and Housewares Show didn’t involve a new product introduction, but rather an information sharing arrangement between The NPD Group and Nielsen that will help retailers and supplier make sense of the market.

Former Safeway executive Keith Colbourn has joined Coupons.com in a new retail oriented role focused on targeting and analytics.

New York -- Installing traffic counters and collecting traffic data is easy. But turning the data into better business results is challenging for even the best retailers. Register now for Chain Store Age’s Webinar, “Three Ways to Get the Most Out of Traffic & Conversion Programs,” which will be held on Wednesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. EST.

In the 1990s, when the Internet and eCommerce created a tangible link between modes of shopping that had previously been isolated (stores and catalogs), retailers struggled with how to understand, measure, and connect with shoppers in multiple ways.

It was out of this confusion that the concept of “multichannel” was heralded as retail’s saving grace, and soon, retailers were all abuzz with cross-channel shoppers.

Fast-forward a few years and retailers began scratching their heads wondering why their “multichannel” initiatives hadn’t delivered the stunning ROI they were pro

Four metatrends are reshaping the industry

Technology evolves to let smaller stores maximize energy savings

Dhiraj Jain, business development head of retail products and IP for global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), recently took some time to explain exactly how the POS is evolving into a full-fledged omnichannel commerce platform.

How has the role of the point of sale (POS) evolved over the years?

A traditional POS is no longer sufficient to fulfill demands of the modern retailer.

Big Lots Inc. did what it was supposed to do in the fourth quarter -- and more, as the discount retailer reported a better-than-expected 3% increase in same store sales.

The company also announced a new omnichannel initiative that it expects to put in place by the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Big Lots has dabbled in online selling in the past, but had discontinued those operations after not getting the strategy down quite right. Now the company says it is looking to fully embrace omnichannel retailing in-store and on its website with a new initiative launching this year.

San Jose, Calif. – This winter has not only frozen roads and roofs, but also had a chilling effect on retail sales. According to the monthly Retail Performance Pulse from RetailNext, there was a 10.4% year-over-year decrease in sales on a 12.5% decline in traffic at brick-and-mortar stores for the retail month of February (Feb. 1-28).

Modesto, Calif. -- Lucky and Save Mart announced the launch of a rewards program driven by an integrated smartphone platform targeted to fit into the busy lifestyle of today’s shopper.

Named appropriately for each banner, Save Mart shoppers can start using the “Save Smart” program starting March 4 at stores throughout Sacramento, the Central Valley and Reno. “Lucky You” will launch in Bay Area Lucky stores on March 18.